Writing team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray, "Smash") kicked off the opening production of the International Thespian Festival, an annual weeklong celebration of the high school theater with more than 3,000 attendees, in Lincoln, NE.

Over the course of 48 hours a national cast of high school thespians meet, rehearse and perform a showcase – and in a surprise encoure, Shaiman and Wittman came onstage to lead the cast in “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” as representatives from every thespian state chapter filled the aisles of the auditorium.

Shaiman and Wittman also conducted musical theater audition coaching workshops through the week, and their musical Catch Me If You Can appeared on the Festival main stage at the end of the conference.

Watch as these Broadway legends inspire and advise the next generation of theatre professionals.